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Define The Concept Of Evolution And The Theory Of Natural Selection

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Define the concept of evolution and the theory of Natural Selection, and the relationship between the two.

The concept of evolution is a theory that explains how biological changes in the genetic structure of a species occur over generations of time. Different animals change as they adapt to their external environment in order to survive. It can be defined on one of two levels. Macroevolution involves changes that happen over many generations in populations that results in the appearance of a new species. Microevolution involves changes within populations that results in differences in individuals within that given population. Nature has its own process of selecting which individuals survive over those that don’t.

Natural selection is the most important mechanism which refers to genetic changes in the frequency of certain traits in populations due to differential reproductive success between individuals. Sexual reproduction increases variations of traits passed down from one generation to the next.

The environment plays a vital part in how a species adapt to fit their surroundings. If an animal’s surroundings change, the animal and its activity patterns would also change in order to better accommodate its surroundings. This means certain body parts would increase or decrease in usage, …show more content…

Animals with more undesirable traits would either not survive or pass along these less desirable traits to its offspring who may or may not survive as well as other animals with better traits. Evolution is a process driven by competition between individuals for available resources and the natural selection of the fittest and most capable over the weakest. The combination of natural selection and evolution creates animals that change with the external environments in which they

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